Concern

A coalition of environmental groups has called on the Obama administration to issue an executive order directing the government to adopt as soon as possible the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) subcommittee on shale gas production’s recommendations that apply to federal agencies.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has declined to have the city join a lawsuit against the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) over Marcellus Shale development, despite a resolution from the City Council supporting such a move.

Public concern over two 40-year-old butane storage tanks operated by a unit of a Houston-based company in San Pedro, CA, fails to recognize the facility’s spotless safety record, the operator maintains.

California regulators unanimously agreed last Thursday that Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) can resume higher operating pressure in its receipt point of natural gas supplies at the California-Arizona border at Topock. Regulators called for “stricter utility accountability” in pipe pressure tests. Separately on Friday five new pipeline measures were signed into law.

Voters in New York still support natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale by a thin margin, 45-41%, because they believe the economic benefits outweigh environmental concerns, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll.

July natural gas futures retreated Wednesday as traders observed interest by systematic traders re-emerging on the sell side, and little concern from surprises in Thursday’s government inventory figures. At the close July was down 7.1 cents to $4.317 and August had skidded 7.3 cents to $4.350. August crude oil added $1.24 to $95.41/bbl.

Expressing concern that FERC’s proposed rule on affiliate bidding could block bids that are entirely appropriate, major pipeline shippers — producers and utilities — urged the agency to revise its proposal to specifically target collusive behavior by affiliates during an open season that relies on pro rata allocation.

Expressing concern that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s proposed rule on affiliate bidding could block bids that are entirely appropriate, the American Gas Association (AGA) urged the agency to revise the proposal to specifically target collusive behavior by affiliates during an open season that relies on pro rata allocation.

With fallout from last April’s Macondo well blowout a lingering financial and legal concern, BP plc last week cautiously reinstated a shareholder dividend and announced substantial changes to its worldwide portfolio.